‘Lost’ Season 6, Episode 7, “Dr. Linus”: TV Recap

Here are the basics to get us started. It’s a Ben Linus-centric episode and on the island, he’s running through the jungle and escaping the carnage of the temple when he comes upon Miles, Lapidus, Sun and Ilana.

A suspicious Ilana asks Miles to work his I-can-hear-dead-people magic and tell her who killed Jacob. When she hears it was Ben, she locks him up at the beach and makes him dig his own grave. Naturally, he tries to weasel out of it by bribing Miles to unlock him. No dice.

Meanwhile, in the alternate L.A., the action plays out at the high school where Locke is a substitute and Ben is a lowly, over-educated history teacher toiling under a jerk principal. Locke plants it in Ben’s head that he should run the school since he actually cares about the students, among them one star pupil named Alex Rousseau. Yes, (Island) Ben’s daughter. Naturally, he tries to weasel into the position by blackmailing the principal over an affair he’s carrying on with the school nurse.

SK: In my opinion, this was the best episode of the season, if not the best episode in recent memory. It had many of the elements I love about the show: a Ben who has reconnected with his inner weasel; Jack in a (seemingly) self-destructive confrontation, this time with Richard; and a great exchange between Ben and Fake- Locke. Watching those two actors square off is always a joy. But more importantly, the episode was the perfect mix of action, drama and mysteries revealed. We learned there are six candidates to guard the island. We learned Richard is eternally young because he was “touched” by Jacob. And we learn Widmore has returned!

MK: Agreed. Plus, given that Ben is offered an out by Ilana at episode’s end and chooses her over Fake-Locke, we basically learn that underneath all of his scheming (and sweater vests), he’s a good guy. The redemption arc has begun! Plus, Widmore in a sub at the end…who basically ignores all of the drama at the beach. What is his mission? And where’s Desmond?

SK: The moral dilemma Ben faces at his teaching job — oust the principal or protect Alex’s academic future — is a miniature version of the one he faced on the island. That he made the right choice to sacrifice himself for Alex appeared to give his (island) character closure. It was so much tighter than the other characters’ alternate world storylines. It was heartening, not hokey, to see him pitch in with the others on the beach at the end of the episode.

MK: Yes, he was sweetly awkward at the end. And I appreciated more take-charge Jack, who is slowly become a man of faith. It was his belief that he was brought to the island for a reason that allowed him to basically save Richard and his pretty eyes.

Also, I have to say — Miles is giving Hurley a run for his money in the quip department. Though I did love the latter asking Richard if he was a Terminator-like cyborg. And did you catch that Mario Van Peebles directed the episode?

SK: Whoa. I didn’t catch that. I have this weird pop-culture soft spot for Mario Van Peebles, even though I couldn’t name one thing he’s been in. Maybe it’s the mellifluous name?

Also, did you catch that in the alternate L.A., Ben’s father made reference to the island and the Dharma Initiative? If I’m not mistaken, it was the first time this season the island was referenced in the alternate world. That it came in Ben’s storyline couldn’t have been an accident.

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